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‘Work has now begun on all CoI Recommendations’; 24 complete- Premier

Even though Ministries are currently preparing their updates as of August 31, 2023, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said he can report that work has now begun on all of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Recommendations as outlined in the Framework Agreement of June 2022. Photo: GIS/File
While the Virgin Islands government and people agree that there is a need for reform in the territory, they have argued that some of the recommendations made by CoI Commissioner and UK national Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom need time and consultation with the people before implementation. Photo: Daily Mail
While the Virgin Islands government and people agree that there is a need for reform in the territory, they have argued that some of the recommendations made by CoI Commissioner and UK national Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom need time and consultation with the people before implementation. Photo: Daily Mail
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Even though Ministries are currently preparing their updates as of August 31, 2023, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said he can report that work has now begun on all of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Recommendations as outlined in the Framework Agreement of June 2022.

“As of the end of July 2023, 24 out of the 50 Recommendations have been completed outright and 26 of the Recommendations have some form of actions being worked on currently,” Premier Wheatley stated at the Continuation of the Third Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

He said the Recommendations are currently split into 131 Actions and, of these, 77 (59%) are completed, 41 (31%) are in progress and 13 (10%) have not been started as yet.

10 of 12 Reviews completed- Premier

Premier Wheatley reminded that the Framework agreement outlined 12 official reviews and noted that 10 of these reviews have been completed.

He said the only two outstanding reviews now are Recommendation B38 – review of the law enforcement and justice systems, and Recommendation B41, which will be the panel to ensure that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and other law enforcement agencies have the facilities and powers to prevent, monitor and detect crime and prepare matters for prosecution.

“Both of these are under the Governor’s remit, so he would be best able to provide an update on these matters.”

Additionally, Dr Wheatley said seven official Audits were agreed and 5 of these have been completed. The remaining two, he said, are the COVID Assistance Grants [which has been partially completed] and contracts for over $100,000 approved from 2019-2022.

While the Virgin Islands government and people agree that there is a need for reform in the territory, they have argued that some of the recommendations need time and consultation with the people before implementation.

The UK earlier this year gave a revised deadline of May 2024 for the CoI Recommendations to be implemented.

 

25 Responses to “‘Work has now begun on all CoI Recommendations’; 24 complete- Premier”

  • street reporter. (10/09/2023, 14:28) Like (13) Dislike (7) Reply
    Britain and the Governor joking or playing with this Govt. Britain & Governor ain serious, the Govt ain serious so what we have is a joke, a circus.
    • Miami Trial. (11/09/2023, 04:35) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
      As soon as that is finished and All of them found guilty and all the evidence come to light, to the public Britain will have no other choice but to step in and suspend. They know this. Foy knows this, hence the reason he asking for all these xtra time.. They all know the hammer is coming down on them..They are playing games, but Britain is patiently waiting..Looking for additional reasons to suspend. They already have enough but more is nustifiable cause..
      • @Miami Trial. (11/09/2023, 11:35) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        Ok UK paid colonial blogger we see you. Let us say it was the Governor instead of foy, would the UK be doing all of this? The answer is no for several reasons. One they would have covered up any wrong doings of the Governor. Second the Governor is over the police so there is no way a Governor could ever be set up or investigated. They would have simply pulled the Governor out of the territory and replace him with another one and let everything go dead like they did before in other overseas territory where there were apparent wrong doings of a Governor but made it look like either a retirement or a reassignment. The point is justice will never be served on the UK because they are the law. This is wrong in the 21st century. Now foy lawyers could not get Xtra time if it was not legitimate so stop talking foolishness. The majority of people in the BVI knows what really took place and who and why it took place and who put it in motion so what you are wishing for God may have a different plan. Suspending a constitution because of this or any other issue in the 21st century is WRONG! Whatever goes wrong or whoever may have done wrong the judiciary system is there to deal with it for all and not just locals nut never UK Official persons who seem to be above the law. This is wrong. It is high handed and it is time it stop.
      • To Miami Trial (11/09/2023, 11:50) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        What about the COI lawyers practicing law in the BVI illegally which is a criminal offense but the UK and Governor did everything in their power to try to block anything coming out of this. What about apparent wrong doing by pass UK Commissioner of Police that were all swept under the rug. What about apparent doing of past Governors where their accounts should be checked worldwide as some of you may be surprised. What about wrong doing with the COI and how it was set up violating many parts of the COI Act where all efforts are made to cover this up. What about the apparent lies the COI Commissioner told authorities at the airport as to the reason of his trip where such conduct is a criminal offense. The list is long and serious on apparent violations on the UK side but they are they are covered up as they are the law and in control of law enforcement so the people of the BVI can never get justice to be balance when it is dealing with them. Why wasn't actions taken against them? Because the law does not allow and they master at implementing scare tactics to anyone who challenge them like Fahie matter. Anyone who supports the suspension of a constitution any where in the world is supporting oppression and slavery. It is saying the actions of the the judiciary system and others is not enough for them and the punishment must be solely what and how the few men in the UK see it for everyone else except them and their Governor. The case with fahie may not have what they are looking for and then what? I am not a fahie fan but the games the UK continues to play are serious and it is going to take a revolution to resolve this matter as they will never give the people of the BVI a fair deal and always try to make us look to each other without hope.
      • what a pity (11/09/2023, 12:57) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        You speak of Britan as a god. You speak of them as if they are sin free. You speak of them as if they are crime free. You speak of them as if they are corruption free. You speak of them as if they they solely determine others destiny as well as theirs. This is where you are making a mistake. This is where Britan is making a mistake. Time will heal all wounds. Jehovah always have the final say.
  • 2023 (10/09/2023, 15:27) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
    do you remember the days of slavery those old slavery day

    be watchful and mindful what our forefathers had to deal with
  • @ STREET REPORTER (10/09/2023, 16:13) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    ONLY BLONDIE CANNOT OR REFUSE TO SEE THAT , BECAUSE HE CONTINUES TO PUSH HIS USUAL RACIST LYRICS DAY & NIGHT , HOPING HE MIGHT FOOL PEOPLE WITH PROPAGANDA / HOPEFULLY KARMA TOUCHES HIM AND REALITY STEP IN •¿• IF HE HAS FRIENDS , MAYBE ONE MIGHT BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TELL HIM ITS TIME TO STOP HIS SH*T , BUT LOOKS LIKE HIS FRIEND AIN'T GOT TIME TO WASTE , AS HE ONLY LISTENS TO HIMSELF , SO ITS YA YA YA YA YAAAA YA
  • Modern Partnership? Balance? (10/09/2023, 17:10) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    The new register of interest act makes it mandatory for all elected and public officials to register their interest and make them public knowledge. However, the Governor and all his UK staff working locally in the BVI have insisted they be exempted from doing the same stating they already registered their interest in the UK yet all not from BVI working for or with Government other than UK residents must register their interest. It is these kinds of high handedness that bothers people about the actions of the Governor and UK while trying to portray that their goal is fairness and balance when in fact it is about dominance and control. We must fight these things and speak out against them.
    • @Modern Partnership? Balance? (11/09/2023, 11:53) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are spot on. They need to check all present and past UK Officials accounts and then the BVI will understand why the $8mill plane heist of BVI tax payers money was never looked into with any seriousness. BVI PEOPLE BETTER WAKE UP!
  • The Street (10/09/2023, 17:17) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    It is time for BVI people to come out of Egypt.
  • Legal analysis (10/09/2023, 17:39) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    Whatever area in government needs improving then do so but the motive behind the COI, the transparency of the COI, and if all actions pertaining to setting up & functioning of the COI including compensations adhere to BVI commision of inquiry act must be challenged in the court of law. Where is the report from the Lawyer Cox? Every story has 3 sides, yours, mine & the truth. Premier time to get sound legal advise as it is clear there is no satisfying of the Governor and his bosses.
  • Legal analysis (10/09/2023, 17:39) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Whatever area in government needs improving then do so but the motive behind the COI, the transparency of the COI, and if all actions pertaining to setting up & functioning of the COI including compensations adhere to BVI commision of inquiry act must be challenged in the court of law. Where is the report from the Lawyer Cox? Every story has 3 sides, yours, mine & the truth. Premier time to get sound legal advise as it is clear there is no satisfying of the Governor and his bosses.
    • @ Legal analyst. B honest. (11/09/2023, 04:29) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      The BVI govt behaviour, failures and obvious corruption caused this COI upon the country. Truth is we learnt a lot. Lots of bad stuff that was hidden in the dark came to light. .The COI happen and completed and there are requirements to fix and address the many wrongs.. Which is good. So why is the Govt, deliberately and wilfully stalling the process and come up with flimsy excuses.?. Why?
      • To: @ Legal analyst. B honest. (11/09/2023, 14:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        You mean gossip which fit into the UK narrative brought on the COI because the COI has not revealed the corruption the gossip was saying. It reveals improvements in systems are needed but to leave out the Governor shows it was not about facts.
  • brainwash (10/09/2023, 17:44) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI taxpayers during the COI paid for a private lawyer for the Governor to protect him from a COI he called but when the former Speaker hired a lawyer to protect the people of the BVI, the same Governor and some of his imps are against the taxpayers paying the legal bill of the Former Speaker. To date the BVI public does not know whether or not the UK COI lawyers were practicing in the BVI illegally. This is a real travesty. They have us killing our own people while setting them free for the only crimes committed.
  • Cries of an upstanding Public Officer (10/09/2023, 18:12) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply
    I will first state I do not support any political party. I am just a hard working public officer wondering who really cares about us as public officers. My parents are not from the BVI but all my siblings were born & grew up in BVI. It is the only home we know. I am mentally exhausted at this point. The COI was called by the Governor who is over the public service. He called it in the heat of the heart of COVID. I thought this was one of the most outrageous acts I have ever seen. What is worse they keep justifying their actions while most public officers, including me, had contracted covid or one or more of our family members did. Even worse some public officers and our family members died with covid and we had to deal with such. Yet we were expected to come to work daily and facilitate the thousands of COI request with unreasonable and inhumane deadlines to get it to them while trying to keep the country running. What was the rush with doing the COI when & how it was done? Now the same Governor wants the same public service he is over for which he ilwas exempted from any neglect of duty in the COI report, to take care of the public, our families, our duties, & ourselves as regular, and still work overtime to implement these questionable COI recommendations with yet another set of unrealistic deadlines. I am stressed out and close to a mental breakdown but who cares. Certainly not the Governor and most of you who come on here backing these inhumane actions with foolish post. We need someone to stand up not only for our rights but for what is right. I am tired and frustrated. Public officers are now being paraded on by the Governor and his office disrespectful daily and in a manner which truly feels oppressive but who do we turn to? This is depressing.
    • @Cries of an upstanding Public Officer (10/09/2023, 23:13) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      This is so deep & real. We feel your pain. You made me look at things from a new & different perspective.
    • @Cries... (11/09/2023, 13:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Our leaders are cowards, all the Premier can do is say YES MASTER, ANYTHING YOU SAY MASTER!
  • Black Lives Matter (10/09/2023, 18:24) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    The coi case relied heavily on two witnesses saying bull crap the auditor general and the internal auditor
    • NB (11/09/2023, 06:13) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      ALL lives matter. Y’all stop that nonsense.
      • @NB (11/09/2023, 20:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Stop nonsense? These white colonializers mistreated our foreparents. Killee many of them. Whiped them for no reason. Raped them. Burn them alive. Enslaved them and now trying to do the same in a modern form and you want us to forget this and calling it nonsense. Don't get me started.
      • @NB (11/09/2023, 21:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Well then, when you’ll realize that Black Lives Matters more than your house pets ME Will!
  • kpt (11/09/2023, 09:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @2023 Some of you are just stupid
  • Yes to UK (11/09/2023, 09:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Cries of an upstanding Public Officer You are forgetting who called for the COI.
  • Opinion (11/09/2023, 09:50) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    of the Premier is irrelevant. Statement of CoI 44 recommendations completion by the UK Director of the FCDO is what the world is waiting for!


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